BookingAir

To: STATE EDITORS

Contact: Tony Haddad of the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, +1-248-601-5215, thaddad@danielbrian.com

Charity preview, open house and family day set for Sept. 5-6

DETROIT, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) will soon offer the public its first glimpse inside the new North Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) as it hosts a series of preview events in advance of the terminal's scheduled opening on September 17.

"Detroit Metro Airport is one of Southeast Michigan's greatest assets, and the Airport Authority is eager to share this new addition to our award-winning facilities with the community we serve," said WCAA CEO Lester Robinson.

VIP Charity Preview Event - Friday, September 5

On Sept. 5, the Airport Authority will host a charity preview event from 7-11 p.m. inside the new Terminal to benefit five local non-profit organizations. This exclusive preview event will offer guests their first chance to see the new, 26-gate facility up-close before it opens to travelers in mid-September. Guests will enjoy music from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Quartet, a strolling dinner by Metro Detroit's premier caterer, Forte Bellanger, as well as musical entertainment from "Alizma" -- a musical sensation direct from Las Vegas. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, First Step, The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and Traveler's Aid Society of Metropolitan Detroit.

For more details regarding this charity preview event, charities and tickets, visit http://www.airportpreview.com.

Members of the working media who wish to cover this event should contact Michael Conway, (734) 942-3558, in advance for credentials.

Community Open House - Saturday, September 6

On Sept. 6, the Airport Authority will welcome all members of the public to experience the new terminal, free of charge, as it hosts a community open house from 1-5 p.m. The open house will offer the community a chance to see the new North Terminal before it officially opens to travelers in mid-September.

While participants explore the new North Terminal and learn about this exciting new addition to DTW, they will also enjoy music, dance, games, a scavenger hunt and prizes provided by Radio Disney. In addition, the fun-filled family event will feature various hi-tech interactive displays including flight simulators, Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, Dancing Heads and much more. Attendees will have the chance to win several prizes including: a plane load of gas in gas cards, a trip to Disney World, several round trip airline tickets and various other giveaways. Refreshments will also be served.

Although the event is free, reservations are recommended. For more information regarding this community open house, and to register, visit http://www.airportopenhouse.com.

Exclusive 'Family Day' Preview Also Planned

Prior to opening its doors to the public on September 6, the Airport Authority will first welcome the friends and family of all of its employees and those of its contractors and vendors who designed, built or otherwise contributed to the planning, design and construction of this new facility at a private event that morning. Details are provided at http://www.dtwfamily.com

"Everyone in Metro Detroit will be proud of the new North Terminal, but the thousands of men and women who planned, designed and built this beautiful new facility will have this special opportunity to show-off their hard work to friends and family," said Robinson.

About Detroit Metro Airport's North Terminal

When it opens in 2008, the new North Terminal will be Detroit's home to Air Canada, American Airlines, AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, USA 3000, and charter airlines. Northwest Airlines and its SkyTeam(TM) partners AeroMexico, Air France, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, will remain in the McNamara Terminal.

The North Terminal Redevelopment Project is creating an estimated 3,200 new, local construction jobs. Upon completion of the new facility, the existing Smith and Berry terminals will be decommissioned - making DTW one of the newest, most operationally-capable and efficient airports in North America. Together with the McNamara Terminal, which opened in 2002, DTW will soon feature two new terminals, nearly 150 gates, six jet runways, and two modern Federal Inspection Services facilities for international arrivals.

Established in 2002 by the Michigan State Legislature, Wayne County Airport Authority is an independent agency responsible for the operation of DTW and Willow Run Airport (YIP). Serving nearly 36 million passengers each year, DTW is the largest airport in Michigan and among the busiest air transportation hubs in the world. DTW's 17 airlines offer more than 1,200 non-stop flights per day to more than 160 destinations worldwide.

SOURCE Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

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